News and Progress

Good News from Albany

Published
May 4, 2011

Following Monday's announcement by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and
Chancellor Nancy Zimpher of the NYSUNY 2020 Challenge Grant
program, University at Buffalo President Satish K. Tripathi has
announced that UB will submit a plan to build a new home for the UB
School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences downtown on the Buffalo
Niagara Medical Campus. Following is a statement he released
Tuesday to the university community outlining UB's plan.

Letter from the President

“Moving the medical school downtown is an appropriate initial step toward realizing our university's vision of excellence. It offers both academic and economic benefits that improve the quality of life within and far beyond our region.”

Satish K. Tripathi, President

University at Buffalo

Dear University Community:

Yesterday, Governor Cuomo and Chancellor Zimpher announced the
NYSUNY 2020 Challenge Grant program, a new initiative that gives UB
and the other three SUNY University Centers an opportunity to
propose projects that strengthen our university academic programs
and support economic vitality in our communities.

During the news conference, the governor repeatedly expressed
his strong support for UB, for our long-term vision, and for the
legislative changes we are seeking, as well as voicing his desire
to obtain approval for those changes from the Assembly and Senate
this legislative session. I was very encouraged to hear that.

I am pleased to share that UB will respond to the governor's
call for proposals by submitting a plan to build a 21st century
facility that will be the new home for the School of Medicine and
Biomedical Sciences on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus —
as envisioned by our comprehensive master plan.

Moving the medical school downtown is an appropriate initial
step toward realizing our university's vision of excellence. It
offers both academic and economic benefits that improve the quality
of life within and far beyond our region, by linking medical
education and research more closely with patient care, and by
enabling researchers and clinicians to work together to create
discoveries that can be spun off into companies that create —
and keep — jobs in our Western New York community.

If this proposal is approved, the NYSUNY 2020 initiative will
provide $35 million in state capital funds — an important
down payment. The legislative reforms we have been seeking will
help us implement this key project and achieve future phases of our
long-term UB 2020 vision.

The legislation sponsored by the Western New York delegation and
passed earlier this year by the State Senate will provide these
reforms, and I am hopeful that with the strong support of the
governor and the chancellor, the reforms will be enacted this
year.

I want to thank all of you, our many community advocates, the
Western New York delegation, Chancellor Zimpher, and the Governor
for their steadfast leadership.

This NYSUNY 2020 initiative represents an important step toward
achieving our ambitious vision of excellence. I look forward to
continuing our partnership as a university community to advance
that vision.

UB is strategically transforming the delivery of academic
support services across the university. More efficient delivery of
services will better support academic excellence and create savings
that can be invested in our academic mission.